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Friday, December 31, 2010

An investigation launched into the IEB results leaked

Lusanda Bill31 December 2010

An investigation is being launched by the Independent Examinations Board.

The investigation is into how a group of learners in KwaZulu-Natal managed to access provisional exam results ahead of next week’s official release.

IEB chief executive, Ann Oberholzer says it is believed that the learners simply Googled their results by using a link from last year’s results website.

The IEB results are only due next week Tuesday while the rest of matrics will receive their results on Thursday.

Zimbabweans rush to Home Affairs to get processed

Thousands of Zimbabweans have flocked the Home Affairs to get processed today.

Any Zimbabweans, who do submit an application to legally stay in South Africa before 5pm today, face deportation.

The department has warned that there will be no extension of the deadline, but whoever is in the queue at 5pm will be helped.

Meanwhile a Zimbabwean national has been arrested for selling fake supporting documents near the Tshwane Event Centre in Pretoria.

Home Affairs said they received a tip-off about three Zimbabweans selling fake documents near the Pretoria Showground’s and authorities were called in, but only one man was arrested while two others fled on foot.

In Cape Town Home Affairs officials reported that they received more than 200,000 applications from Zimbabweans by close of business on Thursday.

Public servant strike played no part in decision to adjust the 2010 matric results

Lusanda Bill31 December 2010

The Council of Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training, Umalusi, says a strike by public servants earlier this year played no part in a decision to adjust the 2010 matric results.

Head of Umalusi Sizwe Mabizela says the majority of learners were not affected when teachers joined the three-week strike earlier this year.

50 senior certificate subjects were written this year and only nine were adjusted up and ten were adjusted down.

Fuel expected to increase in 2011

The South African Petroleum Retailers Association says prices of all grades of petrol are expected to increase by 20 cents to 25 cents a litre next week Wednesday.

The cost of diesel and paraffin will also climb by about 20 cents a litre.

Association head Peter Noke said “I believe that we could face some shortages or two. I think its national prices are also going to rise. So I think motorists need to brace themselves for a tough time ahead”.

Missing Adult Alert:Nawahl Abrahams

Missing Child Found:Kirsten Muller

Public urged to be careful of the gusting south-easterly winds

Lusanda Bill30 December 2010

People in Cape Town will have to endure the strong, gusting south-easterly winds for a few more days.

City of Cape Town spokesperson, Wilfred Solomons-Johannes, says the city's disaster risk management centre and fire and rescue services are advising the public to take safety measures against wind damage and to be alert about fire safety.

The public is being urged not to attempt to make fires during this time, especially not in areas where the risk is very high. The strong winds are favourable for runaway fires.

For any emergency the public can report 107 from a Telkom line, for cellphone users can contact 021 480 7700.

Foul play ruled out in Masiphumelele shack fires

Investigators in Cape Town have ruled out arson as a cause of two shack fires in Masiphumelele, near Fish Hoek.

On Tuesday afternoon several homes were destroyed and hundreds of families left homeless.

In the same area on Sunday 50 people were left homeless when their homes also caught fire.

Police’s Nkosikho Mzuki said “After the initial investigation, we ruled out arson based on the fact that most of the people who were interviewed, couldn’t give us detailed information that points to arson”.

At the scene two people were also arrested for stealing copper cables.

Festive season road death expected to reach 1 000

An indication by the Road Traffic Management Corporation suggests that there has been an increase in 2010's festive season death toll.

The initial figures show that more than 900 people have died on the roads already; the number is expected to reach 1000 soon.

Road Traffic Management Corporation spokesperson Ashref Ismail said “we expected a 50-percent reduction in road deaths, because of the good track record during the World Cup, but it seems that this is not the case”.

Motorists could lose their driving licence

The transport department is going hard after reckless and drunk drivers.

Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele says motorists may go into the New Year, with a suspended licence if they continue to disobey the rules.

Ndebele says first-time offenders can have their licences suspended for six-months, in addition to a fine and jail time. Second- and third-time offenders could see their road privileges revoked for five- and ten-years respectively.

As part of the Make Roads Safe campaign and the New Rolling Enforcement Plan during the week from the 20th to the 27th of December 2010, more than 280 000 vehicles and drivers were stopped and checked.

Thousands of fines issued for various traffic offences; more than 560 drunk drivers were arrested and more than 50 drivers arrested for speeding.

An 11-percent increase in travelers in and out of SA

The number of people who are travelling in and out of South Africa has increased by 11-percent.

The Home Affairs Department says more than two-point-65-million people travelled into or out of South Africa between the 1st and the 23rd of this month.

Department spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa says they have strengthened the number of officials at South Africa’s borders to facilitate this increase in traveller movement.

The roads in the country are increasingly getting busier with some of the busiest roads include the N1 between Pretoria and Polokwane, the N4 between Pretoria and Nelspruit, and the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Public urged to be careful when dealing with flammable objects

The public has been urged to be very carefully when dealing with flammable objects.

This comes after a shack fire in Johannesburg on Saturday destroyed hundreds of homes leaving many displaced.

Emergency Management Services spokesperson Synoch Matabago said, “People need to be more self conscious and very self vigilant when it comes to fire safety. They need to switch off all their electrical appliances when they are not at home and those who are using candles must make sure they blow it out.”

The majority of the fires after being investigated have been found that the they were caused by negligence.

An appeal to road users

The Ministry of Transport says the road death toll on South African roads is still a huge concern.

While Law Enforcement agencies around the country are doing their best to combat lawlessness on the road, the department says they know they cannot be omni-present.

They are appealing to road users especially motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution and use the roads responsibly and avoid the unnecessary loss of lives that the country is experiencing during this festive season.

Man believed to have shot policemen in hospital

By Lelethu Mquqo23 December 2010

The man believed to be involved in the killing of two policemen in Soweto was shot in Johannesburg after being pulled over for questioning.

The police's Lungelo Dlamini, says the police tried to stop the car yesterday but the suspect produced his firearm, jumped out of the car and was shot in the stomach while he was running from the police.

The man has been taken to hospital and will be charged for murder.

Two policemen were shot dead in a Meadowlands hostel whilst on patrol on Sunday.

Police have been raiding several hostels in Soweto, arresting 16 people yesterday.

Earlier, the Inkatha Freedom Party slammed police for harassing residents and injuring some while they were conducted the raids at the hostels.

National Police Commissioner, Bheki Cele, says those unhappy about the police's behaviour should raise their concerns with the Independent Complaints Directorate.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Police raids turn disastrous

By Lelethu Mquqo22 December 2010

Two police constables from Nyanga were arrested for stealing liquor after a shebeen raid.

Nyanga police spokesperson Ntomboxolo Sitshitshi, says the officials allegedly raided a shebeen in Samora Machel and then drove to the police station and loaded the confiscated alcohol into their private cars.

Members of the community reported the incident and they were arrested.

The men will appear in the Philippi Magistrate's Court today.

Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party has condemned the acts of police during hostel raids in Soweto.

IFP spokesperson Vincent Shange, says the IFP strongly believes that the community has to protect the South African Police Service, but it is also their duty to protect them.

The IFP has slammed the killing of the two police officers at the Mzimhlophe hostel on Sunday, but say the police are now harassing the hostel residents and people are being injured and admitted to hospitals.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Major boost for fight against Aids and TB

Health minister, Aaron Motsoaledi, says South Africa has received a major boost to fight Aids, TB and Malaria.

Motsoaledi says the Global Fund has approved a total of up to 300-million-dollars funding for South Africa over a period of five years for prevention, treatment and care of Aids and TB.

He says the grant is the highest amount received from the Global Fund as yet and for the first time also covers Aids treatment. An amount of 10-million-dollars has also been set aside for the strengthening of health systems.

Meanwhile, 8 000 babies have died between in the first five months of this year (1 January and 31 May 2010).

In a written reply to a parliamentary question, Motsoaledi said more than 4 000 children under the age of a year died at national level.

He says with the newborns added, a total of 8 000 deaths were recorded.

Motsoaledi says some of the main causes of death are pneumonia, diarrhoea, prematurely and malnutrition

Govermnet probes into 50 vehicle testing stations

Lusanda Bill20 December 2010

An investigation is underway into more than 50 vehicle testing.

Governmnet’s investigation is based on the 20,00 fraudulent roadworthy certificates that have been issued.

The probe was triggered by a dossier given to Minister of Transport S'bu Ndebele three weeks ago by a group of whistle-blowers from the National Vehicle Testing Association and the National Traffic Information System (eNatis).

It has been reported that some of the death traps unroadworthy vehicles account for 80% of all road accidents each year.

Statistics released by the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) showed that 170 people had died in road accidents since December 1st.

Government to be hard on employers

Minister of Labour Nelisiwe Mildred Oliphant is going to apply pressure on employers to radically redesign the workplace.

The Labour Department have put forward four Bills and if the Bills are passed then it will mean that state surveillance in the corporate world will be largely increased.

Minister Oliphant wants amongst other things to force employers to permanently hire staff instead of giving them rolling contracts, equal pay for equal work, and establishing a state employment agency in which every private sector job vacancy and every new employee will have to be listed.

If companies do not follow these requirements then those companies could face a fine up to ten percent of their annual turnover.

A baby drowns in a 20-litre drum of water

A toddler in the Eastern Cape in Addo has drowned in a 20-litre drum of water.

It is alleged that his mother was intoxicated and was sleeping at the time of the incident.

Apparently a friend of the mother's arrived at the house and found Randall Louw in the drum. She could not waken the mother and had to run to the neighbours for help.

Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Priscilla Naidu said "according to the neighbours, the couple's five-year-old son died about five months ago due to natural causes. An inquest docket was being investigated".

Two people die in Gauteng floods

The Johannesburg emergency authorities have stated that two people have been killed by the recent heavy rains and at least 1000 displaced.

Cleaning personnel have already started the cleaning operations in numerous places.

Alexandra, the Buccleuch Interchange, the corner of Rivonia and Witkoppen roads in Sunninghill, some parts of the R59 on the Vereeniging road and some parts of the West Rand near Florida lake are being watched closely by emergency personnel as these areas have been declared danger areas.

Motorists have been warned to drive with caution when travelling in these danger areas.

Many of the people that have been left homeless by the heavy rains have found shelter in community halls.

Two suspects to appear in court for murder

By Lelethu Mquqo17 December 2010

Two suspects, a 21-year-old man and his 38-year-old mother are expected to appear in the Pinetown Regional Court near Durban today in connection with the death of eight members of the Mabhida family at Marianhill on Monday.

The Hawks suspect a long-standing dispute between neighbours could have led to the killings.

An elderly member of the family of one of the two people arrested died of suspected poisoning some time ago.

Road users will be dealt with-Ndebele

By Jurina Nkwazi15 December 2010

Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has made it clear that motorists who don’t obey the law will be dealt with.

As part of the Safely Home Campaign, Ndebele made a call on road users to exercise extreme caution on the roads this festive season due to rainy weather conditions and poor visibility in various parts of the country.

“Traffic law enforcement will be intensified and traffic offenders can expect a no tolerance approach,” National Transport spokesperson Logan Maistry said.

Meanwhile, motorists who are found guilty of drunk, reckless or negligent driving will see the suspension of their license.

7 die in Eastern Cape circumcision

By Jurina Nkwazi14 December 2010

An 18-year-old young man has died at an initiation school in the Mount Fletcher area this morning.

His death brings the total of Eastern Cape circumcisions to seven.

Health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo says, “A 19-year-old would-be initiate died at Waterfall village in the Mthatha while 12 others are being treated at Mthatha General Hospital after botched circumcisions.

President sues Avusa

Almost two years after the publication, President Jacob Zuma is suing Avusa Media for R5 million for Zapiro's Lady Justice rape cartoon.

President Zuma started actions against Avusa, the cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro and former Sunday Times Editor-in-chief Mondli Makhanya in an order issued in the High Court in Johannesburg on Friday.

The cartoon, portraying Zuma preparing to rape ‘Lady Justice’ included the president loosening his pants while SA Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande, Afican National Congress secretary general Gwede Mantashe ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema, Congress of South African Trade Unions general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, and look on, saying "Go for it boss."

Dewani suspect disappears

By Jurina Nkwazi12 December 2010

A fourth suspect in the Anni Dewani murder has disappeared.

Zola Tongo who was the driver of the vehicle in which the couple were hijacked implicated Monde Mbolombo along with Anni's husband, Shrien Dewani, and two "hijackers" Xolile Mngeni, 23, and Mzwamadoda Qwabe, 26.

According to media reports the 31-year-old from Khayelitsha had a criminal record.

The 31-year-old who worked as a reception clerk at the Protea Colosseum Hotel in Century City disappeared after the murder but the hotel’s spokesperson Rachel Irvine said his contract came to an end on November 30.

V&A Waterfront sold for 10-billion-Rand

By Jurina Nkwazi11 December 2010

One of South Africa's tourist attractions, The V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, has allegedly been sold for 10-billion-Rand.

According to media reports, the Waterfront was sold by Britain-based London & Regional Properties and Dubai-based investment firm Dubai World to a consortium that includes Absa Group and Growthpoint Properties.

Transnet who previously owned the real estate sold it for 7-billion-Rand to L&R Properties and Dubai World in 2006.

Gentleman of jazz' Tony Schilder dies

Schilder was born in 1937 to a well-known musical family in Retreat. His parents, brothers and children are all involved in the music industry.

Having never attended a music lesson, he taught himself and played and composed his music from memory.

He has been described by many as a very soft-spoken person who was always polite to everyone. He dressed smartly and approached his work with style.

Some of his work includes Introducing The Music of Tony Schilder, which was produced by Jonathan Butler, and Jazz in Transit. Schilder is best known for being the frontman of the Tony Schilder Trio.

William Razant of the Western Cape Musicians Association said of Schilder: "He was a humble person who used to never complain, and always had a smile on his face. I will always remember him as the gentlemen of jazz."

Thursday, December 09, 2010

City educates residents on fire hazards

By Lelethu Mquqo9 December 2010

The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Risk Management Centre is tightening its public awareness campaign by introducing a community-based educational theatre programme in informal settlements across Cape Town.

City of Cape Town’s Portfolio Head, Charlotte Powell says the Disaster Risk Management team will use interactive theatre to raise awareness in communities that are at a high risk for the outbreak of fires through the ‘Protect yourself against fires’ campaign.

The campaign will offer a range of practical tips to lessen fire hazards and to ensure that communities are ready for unforeseen emergencies and disaster situations.

Death toll rises to 11 in the Mpumalanga taxi accident

The Mpumalanga taxi accident has now claimed the lives of eleven people.

Three more bodies were found after the taxi lost control and plunged into the Oliphant’s River yesterday.

Eight people were initially found dead but through intense search work that was done in the river three more people were retrieved.

Minister of transport, Sibusiso Ndebele, said the Road Traffic Management Corporation dispatched a team of accident investigation and reconstruction specialists to assist in determining the cause of the crash.

Shrien Dewani arrested in London

Shrien Dewani has been arrested in London for alledgedly being involved in his wife’s murder.

Yesterday the Cape Town High Court heard that Shrien Dewani payed R15 000 to have his wife killed by two men.

Zola Tonga the shuttler driver was jailed for an effective 18 years for his role in the plot. Tongo was convicted of murder, kidnapping, robbery with aggravating circumstances and perverting the course of justice.

Dewani is expected to appear in the Westminster Magistrate Court later today.

Union worried about the damage done on South Africa’s reputation by Dewani case

By Lelethu Mquqo8 December 2010

The justice department says no extradition request for Shrien Dewani has been sent to the department of justice by the police.

This follows a revelation in court by driver Zola Tongo that Dewani allegedly plotted to have his wife killed and make it look like a hijacking in Guguletu, Cape Town.

Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions says it has noted the dramatic developments in the case of the murder of Anni Dewani for which her husband Shrien has now been implicated by the taxi driver who has turned state witness.

Cosatu National Spokesperson Patrick Craven says the law must now take its course and hopes that all those responsible for the murder will now be brought to justice.

Craven says the trade union is mostly concerned at damage to South Africa’s reputation by Dewani case.